Paper box.



w. -H. GOOLEY, DEGD. A. n. 0001,21, ADMINISTRATOR.-

PAPBR BOX. I APELIOATIOH FILED 13120.9, 1912. 1,086,894. j Patented Feb. 10, 191

v 3 SHEETS-BHEBT 1.

' l l 1 T; 4

\WITNESEEE: "5 5 I INVENTUF d/(Mo W. H. GOOLEY, DBGD. A. E. cooLn y, ADMINISTRATOR;

PAPER BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 9, 1912.

' Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

' W. H. GOOLEY, DEGD. .A.. H. 00.0'EEY, ADMINISTRATOR.

PAPER BOX;

APPLIOATION FILED DEG. 9, 1912.

V 3 SHEETS-43115111 3.

\VI NEEEEE: I Ink/EN E La-AW Patented Feb. 10, 191i UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

WILLIAM H. oooLEY, or BROCKPORT, NEW YORK; AUGUSTA H. COOLEY ADMINISTRA- TOR 0E SAID WILLIAM H. COOLEY, DECEASED.

PAPER. BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

more especially to that class adapted to re-' ceive and hold in se arate compartments a plurality of substantially similar articles.

A box may be constructed in accordance with my present invention especially adapted to use as an egg tray.

An object of my present invention is the formation of aboxthat shall be collapsible and preferably from an integral blank, and

in which the contents of the box shall op erate, on account of the cooperation of the different parts of the b'bx, to tend to move the parts of the box to either closed or open position from nearly a neutral position between such open and closed positions and also a box which may be readily formed from its collapsed shape or condition into the complete and closed box and that too when desired, around the intended contents, when sufficiently rigid and placed upon one of the walls of the box, as for instance, the bottom.

Another object is to provide a box of the above mentioned character with preferably removable partitions adapting the box to use as a cell case for the storage and shipment of a plurality, in each box, of any substantially similar articles, such for instance as eggs, and imwhich either the sop arating partitions or the separating partitions with the articles inclosed in the box or even the inclosed articles in the box alone, when sufficiently rigid and conformed to the box, shall tend to hold the box in open or closed position and also tend to move the parts of the box to either closed or open position from nearly a neutral positionbe tween such open and closed positions.

-The main object of my present invention then is to provide abox of the character described such that the articles received and stored therein shall be more fully protected from injury, and in addition thereto a box that may be economically manufactured and in place.

one which may be shipped and stored in collapsed condition.

With these-objects in view for the formation of my box, I provide a blank for the main body portion of the box having a seties of creases of sufiicient depth to readily facilitate the folding oflthe boxfrom the blank where the folds are to be formed, and with creases formed at other points in the blank of such a depth as to afford a means for engagin the otherwise free ends and side edges 0 I the partition or dividing strips in the box in such a way as to hold them The partition strips, of course then, arelonger than the space between the sides of the box by an amount substantially equaling the internal depth of the creases. The blank is creased in such a way as to facilitate the ready'forming of, first, an open box therefrom the flaps of which are preferably cemented together and, after such cementing, the open box thus formed is readily foldable into a box having bottom,side and end members and a lid or cover therefor also having one side and two end members for engaging over the corresponding side and end members of the main body of the box.

The partitions may preferably, although not necessarily, be removable from the box. The main partition strip is provided with flaps cooperating, when in operative posi-' tion, with the end members of the body of the box and the flaps thereon to lock the main partition strip into position and to hold the body of the box in its formed up condition and prevent the collapsing of the same. Interlocking flaps on the partition strip and on the end members of the body of the box operate to removably secure the partitions in place. The bottom, sides,'and cover of the box between the creases, which of course extend outwardly 011 the outside of the box, are protected from coming in contact with external objects and hence such sect-ions of the body of the box and cover comprise the'sides of a cushioned receptacle for protecting the contents of the box in such a way that, when the box is used in storing and shipping egg the portions of the bottom, side and end walls and cover of the box engaging against and contacting with the eggs receive a substantial protection from contact with external objects, as

the protecting and outwardly extending corrugations thus formed engage against external objects and serve to support and pro tect the contents of the box against injury. Such corrugations tend also to greatly strengthen and stiffen the box.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 13 inclusive illustrate a box in accordance with my invention adapted to use as an egg tray, while Figs. 14 and 15 show how the box may be adapted to use without the partitions.

The drawings are as follows,-

\ Fig. 1 is a plan View of the blank form from which the box or carton is formed. Fig. 2 shows, in a top plan view, the carton when collapsed in the preferable way. Figs. 3 and 4 are face views of the long central partition strip and one of the cross partition strips, respectively. Fig. 5 shows, in end view, the carton with the cover open; Fig. 6 shows the carton, also in end view, but with the cover partly closed; Fig. 7 a view from the right of the left hand portion of the carton as seen in Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 an inside end View from the right of the portion of the cart-on seen in Fig. 7 with the partition removed. Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal Y sectional view of the carton taken along the line m-y of Fig. 13 with all parts above and the portion of the cover below such line re moved. Fig. 10 shows, in a view still more enlarged, the left hand end of the carton as seen in Fig. 9. Fig. 1 1 is a sectionalview, drawn to the same scale as Fig. 10, of the carton taken along the line a2 -y of Fig. 13, with all parts to the right of such line removed. Fig. 12 is an edge view of the assembled partition when partly collapsed. Fig. 13 shows, in perspective, the carton with a part of the cover thereof broken away. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the carton shown in Fig. 15 when opened out and is taken in a vertical plane parallel with and to the rear of the end of the carton shown in Fig. 15. In this figure there are also shown four cartons, such as seen in Fig. 13, in their proper position to permit the folding up of the inclosing carton. Fig. 15 shows, in end View, the large carton of Fig. 14 in its closed position.

Similar parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 13 inclusive of the drawings,-The conformation of the blank from which the carton is formed is as shown in Fig. 1. The blank is scored or creased, preferably the latter, longitudinally along the heavydash lines 1, 2, 3 and 4 and, at rightangles to these lines and near the leftand right hand ends of the blank and at equal distances from the ends, along the dash lines 5 and 6. The lines 1 to 4 inclusive divide the blank into five parts viz',-the front wall A, the bottom B, the rear wall 0,

the cover D and the cover flap E, the length of all of which is the distance between the lines 5 and 6. The portions of the blank to the left and right of the lines 5 and 6, respectively, are divided into end flaps a at the ends of the front wall A; and members (2, 0 and (Z at the ends of the bottom, rear wall and cover respectively; and flaps e at the ends of the cover flap E. The blank is cut through at the left and right hand ends of the lines 1 and 4 thus separating the end flap-s a from the end members I) and the end 'fiaps e from the end members at. The end members, I), c and (Z may be left integral.

The portion A is creased along the lines 7 and 8 which extend inwardly at 45 from the intersection of the lines 1 and 5 and Y 1 and 6; the portion E is similarly creased on the lines 9 and 10 which extend inwardly at 45 fromthe intersection of the lines 4 and 5 and 4 and 6; likewise, the end members Z) are creased on the lines 11 and 12 which extend outwardly at 45 from the intersection of the lines 2 and 5 and 2 and 6; the end members 03 are, also, creased along the lines 13 and 14 extending outwardly at 45 from the intersection of 'the lines 3 and 5 and 3 and 6.

The triangular sections of the end members d, between the lines 3 and 13 and 3 and 14 are lettered al and the triangular sections of the end members 6, between the lines 2 and 11 and 2 and 12 are lettered b. A locking flap f is formed on each of the end members d of the cover D and adapted to engage, when the cover is closed, within the slits 8 cut in the end flaps a. The two extensions '0 on each of the end members 0 and the tongues u on each of the members I) are for purposes to be hereinafter explained. Greases along the lines 15 and 16 may preferably be formed between the flaps u and the left and righthand sections 5 of the members 6, as seen in Fig. 1.

As indicated in Fig. l, the bottom B and cover D are divided into front and rear portions, and the entire blank is divided be tween the lines 5 and 6 into six equal spaces by the dot and dash lines which indicate creases or corrugations, as seen at 1- in other figures, formed in the blank for purposes which will be hereinafter explained.

The manner of creasing the blank is as follows: The creases along the lines 7 and 8 extend from-the plane of the blank away from the observer. The creases along the lines 11 and 12 extend from the plane of the blank away from the observer. The crease along the line 2 extends from the blank away from the observer between the lines 5- and 6 and toward theobserver .outside of 'such lines. Similarly the crease extending along the line 3 extends from the plane of the blank away from the observer between the lines 5 and 6 and toward the observer outside of such lines at the end of the blank. The creases formed along the lines 13 and 14 extend from the plane of the blank away from the observer and the 5 creases formed along the lines 9 and 10 extend from the plane of the blank away from the. observer. All of the other creases formed along the other lines, not just mentioned, extend from the plane of the blank away from the observer.

In forming the carton from the completed blank, as shown in Fig. 1, the blank is folded along on the lines 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10-see Fig. 2preferably with the continuous end members 6, c and d folded over on the parts B, C and-D and the part A folded inwardly on the part B and under the end members 6. The end members a are folded outside of and glued to the end members Z) while the end flaps e are folded outside of and glued to the end members d.

The filler for the carton, as the partitions when assembled are usually termed, comprises a central partition strip P and, for the carton shown in the drawings, five cross strips M. The strip P is creased as indicated at 17 and 18 so as to form end members p thereon. These end members 7) have ears h extending inwardly therefrom and cut from the main body of the strip P. The

"length of the strip P between the creases 17 and 18 may be a trifle less than the length of the'blank between the lines 5 and 6 and the length of the end members 10 is equal to half the distance between the lines 1 and 2 of Fig. 1. Five slots 1?. are seen extending from the lower edge to the center, vertically, of the strip P equally spaced to divide it into'six equal portions. The partition strips M are of the same width as the strip P and each one thereof is slotted at m at its center, from end to end with reference to Fig. 4, from the upper edge half way to the lower edge. When the filler is assembled the space in the half portion that is not slotted of each strip M and in a line coinciding with the slot m therein engages Within a slot n in the strip P, while the spaces in the strip P directly over the slots n engage within the slots m in the strips M. The partition strips M are thus held from longitudinal or vertical movement relative to the strip P but can be folded down, as shownin Fig. 12, with one half .of each strip M above the member P and the other half thereof below such member.

To fold the carton up for use,the end members 7), o and d, the front wall A and the cover fiap E are all drawn upwardly, with reference to Fig. 2, in planes vertical to the bottom B. The portions 12 of the end members 7) are then folded inwardly along the obliquely disposed lines 11 and 12, and during this operation the rear wall C is drawn p5 ppwardly to its vertical position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, and the ends 0' thereof extended inwardly across the ends of the carton inside of the portions 6 of the end walls I). Just before inserting the filler the tongue at on each of the turned in portions 6 of the ends 6 is bent inwardly at right angles thereto to engage between the ears 0 on the end members 0. V

The ends 79 of the strip P are bent at right angles thereto and the strip P is then inserted in the carton extending longitudinally through the center thereof with the end flaps pengaging against the ears 1; of the end members 0 to hold such members 0 in place. The rear side of the strip'P will engage, at the ends thereof, against the inturned tongues u of the end members 6 and, with the ends of the members 39 engaging against the front wall A, will thus prevent any displacement from front to rear of the centrally disposed strip P. The tongues h extend rearwardly from the .end members ;0 and engage between the do-ublewalls, comprising the end members I) and the portions thereof, which are formed when the portions 7) are folded inwardly along the lines 11 and 12, and such tongues help to lock and hold the member P in place. After theends ofthe central strip P are properlylocked into place the cross partition strips M are turned at right angles to the. strip P and the outer ends thereof will engage against the front and rear walls A and (J, respeo-' tively, of the carton and rest in the creases 7" therein and operate to hold the cross partitions M in place. It is preferable that the corners of the partitions M beclipped off or slightly rounded so that the edges-thereof will be sure to engage within the creases 1".

In closing the cover D the portions d of the end members at thereof normally tend to fold downwardly over the end members 0 and under the members 05, and with somewhat of a rolling action, along the obliquely disposed lines 13 and 14 by reason of the creases formed at such lines, and the cover 1) is pressed downwardly intoplace, as shown in Figs. 6, 11 and 13 with the cover flap E engaging outside of the front wall A and with the doubled walls comprising the end members (i and the portions 03 thereof, engagingvover the outside of theends of the carton. 'The locking flaps f on the end members (11 may then be slipped into engagement in the slots 8 therefor in the end flaps a.

One feature to be noted in this carton is that the rolling action of the portions (Z of the flaps d, when being folded along the obliquely disposed creases 13 and 14, causes the cover to spring open when opened slightly beyond the positionshown in Fig. 6 and causes it to spring shut when closed slightly more than shown, in this same figure. The portions d of the end members (5 also hold the cover D open and upright, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, by reason of the fact that such members (1 tend normally, each one, to occupy a position in a single plane. During the process ofopening and closing the box, the portions (l of the members d are curved and have a rolling action thus carrying outwardly with them the "members d and necessarily therewith the members e and f comprising the ends of the cover of the box. This results in a springing action tending to completely close the box when the cover has. been moved slightly more than one half way to closed position and also tending to open the cover of the box to a position at right angles with the body of the box when the cover has been moved slightly more than half way to such open position. This same springing action acts also measurably as a lock for holding the cover in closed position as the curving of the members (Z is more positively prevented owing to their being held closely in position between the adjacent members 0 and (X when the box is closed. There is thus provided, resulting from the construction of the car ton and the operation of the several parts just described, a spring actuated lid, the actuating spring therefor comprising cooperating parts of the end members of the cover and of the carton.

At r in the several figures of the drawings are shown creases or corrugations formed in the blank along the dot and dash lines of Fig. 1. The purposes of these creases is to engage and hold the central partition strip P and the cross partitions M more rigidly in place and also to strengthen the carton. The carton is also greatly strengthened by the folds r along the edges thereof, which are formed when the blank for the carton is creased along the lines on which it is to be folded instead of beingscored.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15,The box shown in these figures is made to contain four of the cartons or boxes shown in Fig. 13. The member C is used as the bottom of the box while the parts B and D become the side members and the .parts A and E become the cover. These cover members A and E are, preferably, each slightly greater in width-than half the'width of the bottom member C so that t ey will overlap when the box is closed. T e locking flaps f on the member (2 and the members a and 1) on the end members I; and 0, respectively, seen on the blank shown in Fig. 1 will not be required on this box. When the box is being closed; the portions b and d of the end members b and (1, respectively, will be folded inwardlywith a rolling and springing action and will lie between such members and the end members 0.

It will at once be understood that, when the contents of the formed up carton or box' engage against the end flaps c and on the inside thereof withsufficient force to hold them in place, the springing action, above referred to, takes place. For this reason, then, it will at once he understood that an article or series of articles engaging against each other and filling the box from end to end in such a way as to engage against the ends thereof will perform the same function in regard to the springing action of the parts of the box as the. partition strip P.

Again, it will be understood that, when the flapse and a have been secured in place and the parts of the blank caused to assume the relative position indidated in Fig. 2, the end members may be raised to a position substantially vertical to the member C, as seen in Fig. 14, and on this member C, treated as the bottom of the box, there may be 'laid' any article or series of articles calculated or adapted to fill the box and engage between the end members 0 to prevent them from being forced inwardly and downwardly. The box may then be readily formed up around the contents and the parts A, B, D and E and their respective end members, on account of the springing action, above referred to, 'will readily spring into place when the parts B and D are moved upwardly a little more than half way to their normal vertical -positions.,

Throughout the claims I have used the word crease to designate the indenting of the blanks alon the different lines of or scoring which may be employed to facili tate the ready folding of the blank along certain intended lines.

It is obvious that the cartons may be folded to suit the convenience of .the user as, for example, it is not necessary that partially formed cartons be collapsed before forming the closed boxes.

It is believed from the foregoing description of the blank for my box and the box as formed therefrom that the cooperation of the several parts thereof and the method of using the box is sufiiciently clear to call for .no further explanation herein.

What I claim is:

1. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming'an open four-sided structure, said blank having creases sub-dividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structureto form' the end walls of the closed box.

2. A closedlbox formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank having creases sub-dividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, and a'partition for holding the formed ends of the closed box in set-up position. I

3. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank also creased at opposite sides thereof to facilitate the collapsing of said structure, said blank having creases subdividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, and means for holding the formed ends of the closed box in set-up position, some of said creases in said opposite walls forming between them a single unbroken section at each end of the box connecting the end wall of the cover with the end wall of the body portion of said box.

4:. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have project-ing flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank also creased at opposite sides thereof to facilitate collapsing of said structure, said blank having creases subdividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, and a partition for holding the formed ends of the closed box in set-up posltion, the inner layer of each folded end of the closed box extending beyond said partition to secure the parts of the closed box in said set-up position.

5. A closed box'formed from a blank hav ing creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank also creasedat opposite sides thereof to facilitate collapsing of'said structure, said blank having creases sub-dividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, and a partition for holding the formed ends of the i closed box in set-up position, the inner layer of each folded end of the closed box extending beyond said partition to secure the parts of the closed box in said set-up position, said partition having a projecting flap at each end engaging a fold of the adjacent end of the closed box.

G. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure," said blank also creased at opposite sides thereof to facilitate collapsing of said structure, said blank having creases sub-dividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form .the end walls of the closed box, and a partition for holding the formed ends of the closed box in set-up position, the inner portion of each end of the closed box having an inwardly extending flap, and each end of said partition having a projecting flap cooperating with said inwardly extending flap to secure the ends of the box in said set-up position and to secure said partition in place in the box. 7. A closed box formed from a blank hav: ing creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank also creased at opposite sides thereof to facilitate collapsing of said structure, said blank having creases subdividing the bottom of the open'structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, 10v and a partition for holding the formed ends of the closed box in set-up position, the inner portion of each end of the closed box having an inwardly extending flap, and each end of said partitionhaving a projecting flap cooperating with said inwardly extending flap to secure the ends of the box in said. set-up position and to secure said partition in place in the box, each end of said partition having a second projecting' 4 flap abutting against the side wall of the closed box to hold the first mentioned flaps in said cooperating position.

8. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank having creases subdividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the openstructure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, a partition for holding the formed ends of the closed box in set-up position, said partition having a first flap at each end thereof engaging the corresponding folded end of the closed box, and a second projecting flap extending from said partition abutting against a side wall of the closed box to hold the first-mentioned flap in position in the folded end of the closed box.

9. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank also creased at opposite sides thereof to facili-a tate collapsing of said structure, said blank having creases sub-dividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, a partition for holding the formed ends of the closed box in set-up position, and cooperating flaps carried by the ends of the closed box and said partition for holding the box in said set-up position and for holding the partition in place in the box.

10. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank also creased at opposite sides thereof to facilitate collapsing of said structure, said blank having creases subdividing the bottom of the open structure into the box bottom, rear wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, and a partition for holding the formed ends of the closed box in set-up position, the inner portion of each folded end of said box having a flap on either side of the end of said partition to hold the ends of the box in set-up position.

11. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank also creased at opposite sides thereof to facilitate collapsing of said structure, said blank having creases subdividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom rear Wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, a partition for holding the formed ends of the closed box in set-up position, the inner portion of each folded end of said box having a flap on either side of the end of said partition to hold the ends of the box in set-up position, and said partition having a flap at each end engaging a fold of the correspond ing end of the closed box to hold said partition in position.

12. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank also creased at opposite sides thereof to facilita-te collapsing of said structure, said blank having creases subdividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and comer wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, a partition for holding the formed ends of the closed box in set-up position, the inner portion of each folded end of said box having a flap on either side of the end of said partition to hold the ends of the box in set-up position, and said partition having at each end two oppositely extending flaps, the first of which engages a fold of the corresponding end of the closed box, and the second of which abuts against the side wall of said box to hold the first flap in said engagement.

13. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps se cured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure, said blank having creases subdividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box. two of said creases in said opposite walls extending from the line of fold between the cover and the body port-ion of the box and obliquely with the plane of the cover to form a section at each end of the box tending to hold the cover in either its closed or its open position.

14. A closed box formed from a blank having creases therein forming side members some of which have projecting flaps secured to others of said side members forming an open four-sided structure,said blank having creases subdividing the bottom of the open structure into the box-bottom, rear wall and cover wall, and further creases in opposite walls of the open structure to facilitate folding the said open structure to form the end walls of the closed box, two of said creases in each of said opposite walls extending from the line of fold between the cover and the body portion of the box at an acute angle to each other to include between them a section tending to spring the cover to either its closed or its open position when the cover has been more than half closed or more than half opened, respectively.

15. As a means for forming a closed box,

a blank having creases therein to form conof the box by the continuous side walls, and. tinuous side walls and front and rear walls, projecting tabs on the side walls to faoili .1 gaid fi'onli): and mag Walls havgrg prloljeoting1 tate holding the blanks in folded position.

a s to e secure to said si e wa s sai .5 blaPnk having further creases in its body or- GOOLEY' tion and in its side walls to facilitate old- Witnesses: ing the blank into a closed box having an MARTHA M. NELSON, attached cover connected to the body portion OSBORNE F. GURNEY. 

